Peace River Basin

The Peace River Basin is located within CHNEP and spans 2,335 square miles. The basin contains 288 named lakes/ponds, 131 named rivers/streams/canals and 3 named bays/bayous. The Peace River Basin is the largest and most diverse in the CHNEP study area. From its headwaters in Polk County, the Peace River meanders through swamps, pine flatwoods, hardwood hammocks and marshes before it fans out into the Charlotte Harbor Watershed. The rate of flow is directly proportional to groundwater levels. Underground and overland flows follow natural and altered paths through canals, flood control structures, former and active phosphate mines, wetlands and Lake Hancock. South of Lake Hancock, canals and tributaries combine to define the main channel of the Peace River that eventually flows more than 100 miles southwest to Charlotte Harbor.

The Peace River is also the largest freshwater contributor to the Charlotte Harbor. It is a source of drinking water for about 90,000 people in Charlotte, DeSoto and Sarasota counties. With the effects of reduced rainfall, combined with mining, agriculture and municipal water uses, freshwater flows have declined, threatening the ecology of the river system and Charlotte Harbor.

This basin is located within: Charlotte Harbor Watershed

View Maps / Data

CHNEP's Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) identified four action plans: water quality improvement; hydrological restoration; fish, wildlife, and habitat improvement; and public engagement. Click on the interactive maps below to view data associated with these goals and actions.

Water Quality

Hydrology

Wildlife/Habitats

Resiliency/Weather

Water Quality Snapshot

The Water Quality Snapshot compares the most current water quality data to applicable water quality standards for Chlorophyll a, Phosphorus, Nitrogen, Bacteria, and Dissolved Oxygen to provide a snapshot of how a waterbody is doing. Water quality standards are outlined in Florida Administrative Code 62-302 for fresh/marine waterbodies of different types and uses. A Water Body Identification number (WBID) is an assessment unit that is intended to represent Florida’s waterbodies at the watershed or sub-watershed scale. The assessment units are drainage basins, lakes, lake drainage areas, springs, rivers and streams, segments of rivers and streams, coastal, bay and estuarine waters in Florida.

Showing water quality snapshots for 1 out of 250 WBIDs. View data for all WBIDs

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1622 - LAKE GARFIELD
Dissolved Oxygen Saturation
(percent (%))
Chart
Chart with 1 data point.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying values. Data ranges from 0 to 100.
End of interactive chart.
WIN_21FLPOLK
2/13/2025
Threshold: 38.00
Chlorophyll a, corrected
(µg/L)
Chart
Chart with 1 data point.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying values. Data ranges from 0 to 30.
End of interactive chart.
WIN_21FLPOLK
2/13/2025
Threshold: 20.00
Total Nitrogen
(mg/L)
Chart
Chart with 1 data point.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying values. Data ranges from 0 to 4.
End of interactive chart.
WIN_21FLPOLK
2/13/2025
Threshold: 2.23
Escherichia coli
(cfu/100mL)
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Chart with 0 data points.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying values. Data ranges from 0 to 500.
End of interactive chart.
(no sample)
 
 
Total Phosphorus
(mg/L)
Chart
Chart with 1 data point.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying values. Data ranges from 0 to 0.6.
End of interactive chart.
WIN_21FLPOLK
2/13/2025
Threshold: 0.49

View Detailed Data About the Following Topics:

Geography

Recreation

Find maps and waterway navigation guides, descriptions of facilities and recreational amenities, as well as warnings and restrictions pertaining to their use.

Recreational and Boater Resource Guides

PHOTOS

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